Why is the number of polar bears in the Arctic reduced?

White, or polar, a bear - a powerful and beautiful animal, a real symbol of the Arctic. However, the indigenous inhabitant of the North was under threat. The number of polar bears in the Arctic in recent years has greatly decreased. Scientists claim that in half a century they may not remain on our planet at all. In 2008, the polar bear was declared an endangered species, and it was entered in the Red Book.

Why is the number of polar bears decreasing?

Scientists-zoologists give several reasons for the decrease in the population of polar bears. Among them, natural and anthropogenic factors can be distinguished.

One of the main reasons why the number of polar bears is decreasing is the warming of the climate and the associated reduction in the area of polar ice. And this greatly affects the life of a polar bear, since this animal lives by hunting for seals. Over the past 30 years, the area of ice in the Arctic Ocean has decreased to 5.02 million square meters. Km against an average of more than 7 million square meters. Km.

Climate warming

Climate change has led to warming of water in the southern part of the Arctic Ocean. Some cold-loving fish (for example, saika) have gone to more northern areas. And behind them moved and the population of ringed seals, which is hunted by a polar bear. Part of the bears left behind the seals to the north, and the rest is experiencing great difficulties with food. As a result, bears begin to eat not their usual food - bird eggs, lemming, berries.

Hungry animals are increasingly coming to human habitation. In search of food they ransack garbage dumps and dumps, are a danger to humans. Such animals are shot, which also explains why the number of polar bears is decreasing.

Also, eating food waste, they often swallow and such dangerous things as polyethylene film, nylon nets for food, pieces of glass, etched with residues of household chemicals.

Lifestyle

This powerful and dexterous beast leads a wandering lifestyle. In the spring, when the ice begins to melt, the polar bears go north. Wandering from the ice floe to the ice floe, they make long passes. In ice water they dive during the hunt or to move to another ice floe.

The warming of the climate has led to the fact that the resulting ice becomes thinner and less durable. It breaks more easily and crumbles when struck. Therefore, polar bears have to swim long distances than before. This is associated with a huge waste of energy, which means that more food is needed for recovery. The young can not just overpower such a journey and drown.

Because of the changed ice conditions, many of the bears do not have time to return to the land to continue the genus. Increasingly, they are forced to dig tribal lairs directly on the ice floe, which increases the risk of death of both babies and the bear herself. Indeed, the appearance of cubs and feeding them takes a lot of her strength, and she can not leave the den for hunting until the children can follow her.

Hunting

Another reason why the number of polar bears is decreasing is poaching. While they were an object of hunting for only a few indigenous inhabitants of the North, it was not noticeable. But when bears began to hunt with modern weapons, using helicopters, the number of shot animals increased dramatically. Organized whole tours for hunting polar bear. And the skin of the dead Arctic predator was then proudly shown to the guests.

Now the polar bear is guarded, but for poachers this is not an obstacle.

Diseases

Scientists are trying to establish more precisely why the number of polar bears is decreasing. The answers are different. Among the causes are also diseases, for example trichinosis. It causes parasites, settling in the muscles of animals. In addition to polar bears, they are sick of arctic foxes, sled dogs, seals. Some people think that people brought this disease to the North.

There is no doubt that polar bears need protection. Otherwise, our grandchildren may never know about a strong and surprisingly beautiful beast, a nomad of the Arctic, who lived in the harsh North.